The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-09
A Letter which Is Worthy Of n Noble
South CarOlinian.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT..
FIRST COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,

WASHINGToN, ID. c., February A, 1887.
s. Z. Lupton, Esq, Huntsville, Ata;: .u
of the 10Th instant, wherein you say that
Col benson is disposed to throw upon you
the responsibility for certain letters written
by this office, about the accounts Gi ntcias aas
certain articles that have appeared In news
papers.
/ am somewhat surprised at this; you did,
duty in the matter While in this Office, and to
TO endearor to make a scape-goat Of you
would be the height OF injustice;
AS you are aware, told you when put the
Alabama accounts on your desk that I did
not feel satisfied at the manner in which
things were running there; that rank abuses
seemed to have grown up under tho fee'sys-
tenn which called for attention; 4; that TO get at
the bottom of the matter would take time
and O tedious examination of all the judicial
accounts from that State Correlated as they
were and throwing light, the one on the 9th
self assiduously 10 the task, and ascertain, il
possible, the true inwardncss OF thi ngS; and
that thought tho result would be the work
ing OF Il reform where reform was seemingly
also remember telling You in this connec-
tion how 1t was admitted all around that
great frauds hNI been -perpetrated in Ala-
bama under former administrations; how.
indeed, the whole service in that State seemed
10 been debuuchcd, so to speak, by the rendi-
ton of false accounts, and how matters
seemed to DC growing no better. l also sug-
gested thnt the machinety Of the law was
largely in the same old hands-the same U. :.
commissioners, Deputy MarShalS, chronic
witnesses, and old-time defendants, figuring
in the accounts; that reformation in these
matters, even if needed. could hardly he
wrought by the few officials on the ground
who were willing to take partin such move
ment; and that thought the vigorous hand
OF u reform First Comptroller could he used
to advantage in this work.
Under these circumstances, you took the
Alabama accounts; and though this office
has written several letters about them
Of the General Land Office on Sept. 81, 1856,
and though several newspapers have pub.
lished articles about them, l must soy that
the letters so written, and the articles in the
ring perhaps little Establishment of the re-
porters here and there, are sustained by the
accounts, &c, on file in this office. Tho facts
not to be denied; The only thing Is whether
such q light can be thrown on them from
another quarter as to show that the accounts
sent here are altogether misleading, and that
the proper administration OF justice In the
Federal courts OF Alabama require that the
same parties should be appearing year after
year in the dual capacity Of witness and de-
| fendant, prisoner and guard, vindicator OF
| the law and violator Of it-but need not re-
hearsc to yon protean character Of some OF
| the professional hangers on of the Federal
courts In that State rs they appear from the
accounts that are sent in to this Department.
| SO far an responsibility for the giving out
| from this office Of the facts contained In the
particular articles to which you refer is con-
| cerned, do not doubt but Judge Durham
will assume 1t; facts of that kind are not
given out except with his personal knowled dye
and approval. or course If the reporters dis
| tort matter after they get IL, the Comptrol.
Ter ought not to be regarded as responsible
| for that.
| SO far as am concerned myself believe
| the press to WELD wholesome influence in
| the correction of abuses of the kind OF
which mention Is made herein; but my
| ther yea nor nay. Judge Durham being the
head of tho office, and responsible for the ad.
ministration thereof, his wishes prevail; and
my desire in all do connected with the OF
| flee Is to render tho Comptroller such assist
ance as will enable him to make the best al.
ministration possible OF his Office.
Very truly yours,
j. ALTHEUS JOHNSON.